I have a stupid question ???

JR
JR Member Posts: 139 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
About a month ago someone started a thread something like, shout out or roll call to cc survivors. Most of the replies implied that you have to be NED to be considered a cc survivor. I was dx about 15 months ago and I'm still alive. Am I a survivor ? I think so. I,m still all chemoed up, and probably will be forever, but still kicking. Am I a too sensitive or what ? Anyway, this tribe has spoken.

Thanks,

John


BTW - Cancer BLOWS.
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Comments

  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #2
    I've had this argument before
    In general, I think the community as a whole considers anyone with cancer a survivor. I've argued until I'm blue in the face and can't convince anyone who believes this that their wrong. I do see their point. The mental aspect of this disease can be quite taxing. Waking up each day knowing you have cancer and still keeping your composure is qualification enough to claim survivor status. I prescribe to the other view though. I think you need to be NED, or have reached NED at some point. I look at it more practically. I use the Titanic analogy. Do you consider the people who escaped the Titanic with only life preservers to be survivors. Yes, they didn't go down with ship but they froze to death escaping. That kind precludes them from survivor status. Same way with us. But that is only my unpopular opinion.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    #4
    yes you are !!!
    hi john,

    in my book anyone who has cancer and gets up to see another day is a survivor!!!
    be well my friend
    never,ever give up!!
    bruce
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #5
    man is
    Man IS what he thinks about all day long!

    If you think of yourself as a survivor you have a much better chance.
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #6
    I agree John
    That was a "silly" question with all due respect. If you are writing this email you are a survivor. NED, SCHMED. I've been at this 6 years next week as a matter of fact. Personally I don't use the term survivor, I prefer living with cancer but I've been know to go against the norm. I think everyone, cancer or not, are survivors if we get up every day.

    Welcome to the tribe John, the tribe of survivors and those living with cancer!
    All the best
    -phil

    I also agree that CANCER SUCKS

    PS: What's the logo on your cap for?
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #7
    Kerry S said:

    man is
    Man IS what he thinks about all day long!

    If you think of yourself as a survivor you have a much better chance.

    Kerry
    Do you mean that I'm tall, dark and handsome?
    I'll settle for 2 out of 3
    ;-)
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #8
    Hi JR,
    I believe all of us
    Hi JR,

    I believe all of us living with cancer, whether NED or not, are survivors! I believe you are a survivor!
  • JR
    JR Member Posts: 139 Member
    #9
    PhillieG said:

    I agree John
    That was a "silly" question with all due respect. If you are writing this email you are a survivor. NED, SCHMED. I've been at this 6 years next week as a matter of fact. Personally I don't use the term survivor, I prefer living with cancer but I've been know to go against the norm. I think everyone, cancer or not, are survivors if we get up every day.

    Welcome to the tribe John, the tribe of survivors and those living with cancer!
    All the best
    -phil

    I also agree that CANCER SUCKS

    PS: What's the logo on your cap for?

    Silly question
    Phil,
    I knew it was a silly question when I asked it but chose to anyway. It's just one of those little things that was bugging me. The cap is for the University of Utah.

    John
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #10
    snommintj said:

    I've had this argument before
    In general, I think the community as a whole considers anyone with cancer a survivor. I've argued until I'm blue in the face and can't convince anyone who believes this that their wrong. I do see their point. The mental aspect of this disease can be quite taxing. Waking up each day knowing you have cancer and still keeping your composure is qualification enough to claim survivor status. I prescribe to the other view though. I think you need to be NED, or have reached NED at some point. I look at it more practically. I use the Titanic analogy. Do you consider the people who escaped the Titanic with only life preservers to be survivors. Yes, they didn't go down with ship but they froze to death escaping. That kind precludes them from survivor status. Same way with us. But that is only my unpopular opinion.

    "Yes, they didn't go down
    "Yes, they didn't go down with ship but they froze to death escaping. That kind precludes them from survivor status."

    So you mean that if John is actually dead now, he doesn't qualify as a survivor? Good point. (These academic questions have a great attraction for me.)

    --Greg
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    #11
    We're all survivors and fighters
    That's the way I look at it..

    Brooks
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    #12
    just4Brooks said:

    We're all survivors and fighters
    That's the way I look at it..

    Brooks

    a survivor
    As long as I don't get dirt thrown in my face I am a suvivor ....
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #13
    I'm a survivor!
    I know what you mean- I felt that funny feeling at that wording back when the roll call was posted (I felt "you mean I'm not a survivor since I'm still fighting it"). I know what they mean- if someone beats cancer and is NED, then people want to know "how they survived it".
    I most definitely consider myself a survivor, and I'm not NED. I've been dealing with this cancer garbage for two and a half years and I don't know that I'd still be around at this point if I didn't have the "survivor mode" switched on- that's what keeps my fighting spirit. I could have just given in long ago and prepared to die. I actually did that at first, but then realized "Nope, I'm a fighter and a SURVIVOR- I will not become one of those lousy death statistics".
    I will be a cancer survivor until/unless I die from it (or finally get that NED status or die from something else- people get in car accidents all the time- maybe it won't be cancer at all that will take me).

    Here's hugs to all the other fellow Survivors out there- stay strong and keep fighting!!!!

    Lisa
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #14
    Living with cancer
    is surviving. I remember yesterday waking up and looking outside and just being grateful for being alive. JR you're attitude is inspirational. Keep on keeping on, bro.

    Love, Leslie
  • JR
    JR Member Posts: 139 Member
    #15
    lesvanb said:

    Living with cancer
    is surviving. I remember yesterday waking up and looking outside and just being grateful for being alive. JR you're attitude is inspirational. Keep on keeping on, bro.

    Love, Leslie

    Thanks
    Thank you dear. When are you coming back to Salt Lake ?

    John
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #16
    JR said:

    Thanks
    Thank you dear. When are you coming back to Salt Lake ?

    John

    Salt Lake
    My CT scan is 5 PM March 4 and I see Dr Weis the next morning. My girlfriend who is coming with me may also be having surgery at the U of U for dermoid cysts, large, non-cancerous, that week as well so we may be in SLC the whole first week of March. I'll keep you and Paula posted.

    Leslie
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    #17
    We're all survivors!
    That is the way I see it. I tend to think of it like Phil, we're "living with cancer".

    I have also heard it put this way...
    "You haven't really survived cancer until you have died of something else!"
    LOL

    Enjoy this great day of living!

    Rob; in Vancouver
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #18
    robinvan said:

    We're all survivors!
    That is the way I see it. I tend to think of it like Phil, we're "living with cancer".

    I have also heard it put this way...
    "You haven't really survived cancer until you have died of something else!"
    LOL

    Enjoy this great day of living!

    Rob; in Vancouver

    Rob
    "You haven't really survived cancer until you have died of something else!"
    That's GREAT!
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #19
    PhillieG said:

    Rob
    "You haven't really survived cancer until you have died of something else!"
    That's GREAT!

    Hummmm....
    Lisa..... U are right....we are soooooooooo much the same in a lot of areas. You just touched on another... "This disease is not taking me down" ME EITHER.... someone is gonna have to shoot me or something cause I refuse to die from this crap.

    JR......... you SURVIVE evry day you are breathing.... whether it be from CC or whatever... and oh yeah JR... something I been wanting to get off my chest.....YOU are sure a fine lookin man! :)

    Jennie
  • Mchapp
    Mchapp Member Posts: 95
    #20
    idlehunters said:

    Hummmm....
    Lisa..... U are right....we are soooooooooo much the same in a lot of areas. You just touched on another... "This disease is not taking me down" ME EITHER.... someone is gonna have to shoot me or something cause I refuse to die from this crap.

    JR......... you SURVIVE evry day you are breathing.... whether it be from CC or whatever... and oh yeah JR... something I been wanting to get off my chest.....YOU are sure a fine lookin man! :)

    Jennie

    the day you are diagnosed YOU ARE A SURVIVOR!!!
    The American Cancer Society considers a cancer Survivor to be anyone who defines himself or herself this way, from the time of diagnosis throughout the balance of his or her life. It is important to remember, however, that just because the American Cancer Society considers a person a survivor does not mean that they consider themselves a survivor.
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    #21
    JR,
    I think Bruce said it
    JR,

    I think Bruce said it pretty well....

    I think once we're all diagnosed, we're survivors. We ARE survivors!! YAY!!

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